Magnetic pocket attachment

ABSTRACT

A magnetic pocket attachment attaches securely to the waistband of a clothing item, either outside of inside the garment. The magnetic pocket attachment includes a body member having a closure flap extending from a top portion of the body member, where the closure flap can cover an opening to a pocket formed in the body member. The magnetic pocket attachment further includes an attachment flap extending from a top portion of the body member, where the attachment flap can fold over the body portion and, with a magnet in the attachment flap, can magnetically attract to another magnet in the body member. The closure flap can include a metallic member formed therein, along with a decorative and magnetic member, to attract to the magnets of the body member and the attachment flap, helping keep the closure flap in a closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothing accessories and, more particularly, to a pocket that attaches to clothing via magnets.

Many clothing items do not have pockets. Several attempts have been made in the industry to provide a pocket-type addition for the wearer of such clothing. Many of these attempts have resulted in products that do not attach easily and securely without being sewn in or they require belt loops to attach to a belt.

Alternatively, clothing items can be altered to permanently affix regular pockets or other attachable pockets require a separate fastener such as a clip to attach to belt loops.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device that can quickly and easily add a pocket to clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a magnetic pocket attachment comprises a body member forming a pocket cavity; a closure flap extending from a top side of the body member and covering the pocket cavity; an attachment flap extending from the top side of the body member and foldable behind the body member; one or more attachment flap magnets disposed in the attachment flap; and one or more body member magnets disposed in the body member, the body member magnets aligning with the attachment flap magnets with the attachment flap is folded behind the body member in a wearing configuration.

In another aspect of the present invention, a magnetic pocket attachment comprises a body member forming a pocket cavity; a closure flap extending from a top side of the body member and covering the pocket cavity; an attachment flap extending from the top side of the body member and foldable behind the body member; two or more attachment flap magnets disposed in the attachment flap; two or more body member magnets disposed in the body member, the body member magnets aligning with the attachment flap magnets with the attachment flap is folded behind the body member in a wearing configuration; and two or more metallic members disposed in the closure flap, the two or more metallic members aligning with and attracted to the two or more body member magnets when the closure flap is in a closed configuration.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic pocket attachment, being worn by a user externally, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the magnetic pocket attachment of FIG. 1, being worn by a user internally for security enhancement;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the magnetic pocket attachment of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the magnetic pocket attachment of FIG. 1 with its closure flap open, illustrating insertion and removal of a mobile device therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the magnetic pocket attachment of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view showing a portion of the section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a magnetic pocket attachment that attaches securely to the waistband of a clothing item, either outside of inside the garment. The magnetic pocket attachment includes a body member having a closure flap extending from a top portion of the body member, where the closure flap can cover an opening to a pocket formed in the body member. The magnetic pocket attachment further includes an attachment flap extending from a top portion of the body member, where the attachment flap can fold over the body portion and, with a magnet in the attachment flap, can magnetically attract to another magnet in the body member. The closure flap can include a metallic member formed therein to attract to the magnets of the body member and the attachment flap, helping keep the closure flap in a closed position.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 8, a magnetic pocket attachment 10 can include a body member 18 forming a pocket cavity 26 for containing an object 28. A closure flap 20 can extend from the body member 18 and cover the opening of the pocket cavity 26. An attachment flap 30 can extend from the body member 18 and fold over to the back side of the body member 18.

The magnetic pocket attachment 10 can be worn in various manners by a user 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic pocket attachment 10 can be worn with the pocket cavity 26 on the exterior of the apparel 14, with the attachment flap 30 disposed behind the waistband 16 of the apparel 14 (between the apparel 14 and the user 12). In some embodiments, the magnetic pocket attachment 10 can be worn with the pocket cavity 26 on the interior of the apparel 14 (between the apparel 14 and the user 12), with the attachment flap 30 disposed in front of the waistband 16 of the apparel 14. In this embodiment, only the attachment flap 30 is visible and the ability to “pick” the pocket cavity 26 is reduced or eliminated.

The attachment flap 30 can include one or more magnets 24 disposed therein. Typically one magnet 24 can be disposed near each distal corner of the attachment flap 30. The magnets 24 can be disposed in the attachment flap 30 by various manners known in the art, for example, the magnets 24 can be formed in the attachment flap 30 with stitching to hold the magnets in place, or the magnets 24 can be secured to the attachment flap 30 with adhesive, or some other method or combination of methods may be used.

The magnets 24 in the attachment flap 30 can align with magnets 24 disposed in the body portion 18 of the magnetic pocket attachment 10. Typically, two magnets can be disposed along an edge of the body member 18, located down a distance from the top of the body portion 18 that corresponds to the location of the magnets 24 in the attachment flap 30 when the attachment flap 30 is disposed in an attached configuration (as shown in the Figures). The user 12 can place the magnetic pocket attachment 10 in the desired location and fold the attachment flap 30 over the waistband 16 and the magnetic pocket attachment 10 can be secured in place by the attraction between the magnets 24.

The closure flap 20 can include a metallic member 22, such as a washer, that can be magnetically attracted by the magnets 24. The metallic member 22 can be secured to the closure flap 20 so that the metallic member 22 aligns with the magnets 24 to hold the closure flap 20 in a closed position. The metallic member 22 can be secured to the closure flap 20 by various methods. In some embodiments, a rhinestone or rivet 32 can extend from an exterior of the closure flap 20, through a hole in the metallic member 22, and a backing member can hold the rhinestone or rivet 32 in place. Various decorative components can be used in place of the rhinestone or rivet 32 to provide an outer decorative element to the magnetic pocket attachment 10. The rhinestone or rivet 32 not only provides a decorative component, but is also functional to help close the closure flap 20 due to it magnetic properties.

The magnets 24 can be various types of magnets, provided that they provide sufficient attraction to secure the attachment flap 30 to the body member 18 through a waistband 16 of apparel 14. In some embodiments, the magnets 24 can be neodymium magnets.

While the Figures show a mobile device being stored in the magnetic pocket attachment 10, various items can of course, be stored therein. For example, the magnetic pocket attachment 10 can be used to store cash, keys, credit cards, passports, medication, eyewear, pet treats, and the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic pocket attachment comprising: a body member forming a pocket cavity; a closure flap extending from a top side of the body member and covering the pocket cavity; an attachment flap extending from the top side of the body member and foldable behind the body member; one or more attachment flap magnets disposed in the attachment flap; and one or more body member magnets disposed in the body member, the body member magnets aligning with the attachment flap magnets with the attachment flap is folded behind the body member in a wearing configuration.
 2. The magnetic pocket attachment of claim 1, wherein the one or more attachment flap magnets includes two attachment flap magnets; and the one or more body member magnets includes two body member magnets.
 3. The magnetic pocket attachment of claim 1, further comprising one or more metallic members disposed in the closure flap, the one or more metallic members aligning with and attracted to the one or more body member magnets when the closure flap is in a closed configuration.
 4. The magnetic pocket attachment of claim 3, wherein the one or more metallic members are washers.
 5. The magnetic pocket attachment of claim 3, further comprising a decorative and magnetic element disposed on an exterior of the closure flap adjacent to the metallic member.
 6. The magnetic pocket attachment of claim 5, wherein the decorative and magnetic element retains the metallic member in a desired position while keeping the closure flap in a closed position.
 7. A magnetic pocket attachment comprising: a body member forming a pocket cavity; a closure flap extending from a top side of the body member and covering the pocket cavity; an attachment flap extending from the top side of the body member and foldable behind the body member; two or more attachment flap magnets disposed in the attachment flap; two or more body member magnets disposed in the body member, the body member magnets aligning with the attachment flap magnets with the attachment flap is folded behind the body member in a wearing configuration; and two or more metallic members disposed in the closure flap, the two or more metallic members aligning with and attracted to the two or more body member magnets when the closure flap is in a closed configuration.
 8. The magnetic pocket attachment of claim 7, wherein the two or more attachment flap magnets includes two attachment flap magnets disposed on distal corners of the attachment flap.
 9. The magnetic pocket attachment of claim 7, wherein the two or more metallic members are washers.
 10. The magnetic pocket attachment of claim 7, further comprising two or more decorative and magnetic elements disposed on an exterior of the closure flap adjacent to the two or more metallic members, wherein the two or more decorative and magnetic elements retains the two or more metallic members in a desired position and forms a magnetic attraction to the magnets. 